Borough President Scott Stringer considers community boards “the first line of defense for Manhattan neighborhoods.” But one name among his final round of appointments, announced yesterday, makes you wonder if Stringer believes Manhattan neighborhoods should be protected from reckless drivers.

Stringer re-upped CB 7’s Daniel Zweig, who along with transportation committee co-chair Andrew Albert opposed the expansion of protected bike lanes on the Upper West Side. Though the existing protected lane on Columbus Avenue has made conditions safer for all street users — pedestrian injuries are down 41 precent — Zweig has said he does not believe DOT’s numbers.

Zweig’s reappointment was recommended by City Council Member Inez Dickens. Dickens remained silent last year as a DOT proposal to tame traffic on deadly Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard was watered down at the behest of CB 10.

Albert will be eligible for reappointment next year, after Stringer leaves office, as will Erik Mayor and Frank Brija, two Stringer appointees to CB 11. Brija and Mayor, owners of Patsy’s Pizza and Milk Burger, respectively, waged a misinformation campaign against proposed safety measures for First and Second Avenues in East Harlem, leading the board to temporarily rescind its support for the project.

Among other claims, Brija and Mayor said that safer space for cycling and shorter pedestrian crossings would increase asthma rates.

When 6-year-old Amar Diarrassouba was crushed by a truck driver at an intersection that was slated for improvements, Mayor blamed the victim’s 9-year-old brother. During the ensuing backlash on Twitter, Mayor wrote: “[E]xplain how a narrow road is healthier? Is it like breathing through a straw?”

Why does Scott Stringer directly appoint NIMBY and safe street enemy, Sean Sweeney, to CB2?
Look at the link. At least Zweig was not directly appointed by Stringer – he was appointed by Inez Dickens. What’s going on here?

Ben Kintisch

I was at a meeting when Dan Zweig told three folks from the DOT “I don’t believe these numbers,” and vocally dismissed most of their expert testimony. It’s really a weird aspect of NYC government – that our safety is not decided by the experts but by citizens who elevate their hunches, biases, and anecdotal evidence over the expertise of traffic engineers.

Guest

Sweeney has had physical altercations with fellow board members and personally insulted others at meetings. Mayor blamed a 9-year-old for his brother’s death. You really have to wonder what it takes to get kicked off of a community board.

Julie Parr

Really? Where did you hear this? Do you have any proof or evidence? Such evidence could be very useful.